Galatians 1 - 3 (24th November) - Weiling

GALATIANS

Background
There were some Jewish Christians who believed, among other things, that a number of the ceremonial practices of the Old Testament were still binding on the New Testament church. Following Paul’s successful campaign in Galatia, they insisted that Gentile converts to Christianity abide by certain Old Testament rites, esp circumcision. Some of these Jewish Christians argued that Paul was not an authentic apostle and that out of a desire to make the message more appealing to Gentiles he had removed from the gospel certain legal requirements. And so Paul responds by writing this letter to the church of Galatia.

Theme and Message
We are justified by faith in Jesus Christ – by nothing less and nothing more – and we are sanctified by the obedience that comes from faith in God’s work for us, in us and through us by the grace and power of Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Jews & Gentiles: The Jews are blood descendants of Abraham (you can trace back the lineage) and they are proud of that. Circumcision was observed according to the Law by Moses. To simplistically explain, the Gentiles are the non-Jews.

GAL 1
Paul Called by God
After we learn about the background of this book, we can better understand why Paul seems to keep qualifying himself as one sent by God. He began the letter by stating that he was sent by God (Gal 1:1) and that he received the gospel by revelation from Jesus Christ (Gal 1:11-24). We can read more about Paul’s conversion in Acts 9.

GAL 2
External Appearances and Fear of Men
Paul was called to the Gentiles just as Peter was called to the Jews. Paul was accepted by the rest of the apostles, men of “high reputation”. They had heard about his conversion and praised God because of him (Gal 1:23,24). But we see that Paul did not care much about reputation or what men think because “…God does not judge by external appearance” (Gal 2:6).

It was this fear of men and the occupation with outward appearance that caused Paul to oppose Peter. This was because Peter used to eat with the Gentiles but stopped after some Jewish Christians from James arrived. (To understand this chapter better, you may also wish to read Acts 10:9-11:18 where God spoke to Peter that the gospel is also for the Gentiles.)

Peter was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group (Gal 2:12). The Jews pride themselves in obeying the Law and are fixated with it. They saw the Gentiles as sinners and do not associate with them.

Justified by Faith in Jesus Christ Alone
But the important truth is that “…a man is not justified by observing the Law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.” This is because no one can be justified by observing the Law. Nobody is good enough. (Gal 2:15,16) If righteousness could be gained through the Law, Christ would have died for nothing! (Gal 2:21). We all fall short.

But through our faith in Christ, we were crucified when Christ was crucified, so that we no longer live but that it is Christ for lives in us. (Gal 2:20) And so the life we now live, we live it by faith in the Son of God who loves us and gave Himself for us.

Cease striving in the flesh to merit God’s love. And don’t adopt a holier-than-thou attitude because you think you kept more rules!

GAL 3
Gentiles are Justified by Faith (Gal 3:8)
Most of us are “Gentiles” unless you are a Jew by birth. Here Paul says that “…those who believe are children of Abraham” and are “blessed along with Abraham” through Christ Jesus (Gal 3:7,9,14).

Thus, we share in his promise from God and his inheritance as well! God is not one to show partiality and indeed we are all one in Christ Jesus and all sons of God through faith in Jesus. (Gal 3:26,28)

The Promise and the Law
The Promise came before the Law. Thus, the Law does not alter the inheritance and blessings that God promised to Abraham and his seed – Jesus Christ. The inheritance does not hinge on the Law. The Law was set in place because of our sin before Jesus Christ came to earth. The Law was so that we would realize that no one is righteous for all have fallen short. The Law was to lead us to Christ (Gal 3:24) through whom alone we may be justified by faith.